Car engine total loss...have a question

[annamaria]

...it's nothing you'll have to worry about.It's commonly called a blower.You're more apt to see boost in a turbocharger.Either one,I'm guessing is nothing you'll need to concern yourself with.Can't speak for Tirediron,but I think its safe to say he was being facetious.<---(always wanted to use that word in a post) Good luck!!!

Lol. Thank you I need all the help I can get.

 

[annamaria]

I'm sure that size tire should fit many models from many manufacturers over many years. You may need to have them put on a different rim for the bolt pattern but that will depend on the auto manufacturer.

That's great news! Thanks

 

[annamaria]

What you did there. I see it. BTW, TURBO ON A STICK! Most of these places have flatbeds for a reason. As for a new car, avoid the new Focus. I have one and the transmission's horrible.

Will keep that in mind. No Ford Focus for me. Thanks

 

[bribrius]

Funny how you specifically mentioned USED - AMERICAN car. Yeah, get that motor fixed. It will be less trouble compared to fixing an used American car. Fixing cars isn't difficult, but that's provided that you have the tools, which aren't cheap. This is when I am glad that the labor cost here is too damn cheap. Had an engine gasket replacement on my mom's 03 Audi A3 recently, cost only USD$250. When I had my 97 Prelude in the States, the timing belt replacement job was rated as a 6-hour job. Imagine how much it cost me.

I see your point and yes If I knew anything about fixing cars it would definitely be DIY project. I'd drag the old toolbox out

I know something about fixing cars, and grew up a lot rat (fathers friend had a car lot I spent a lot of time at). When it comes to my own vehicles, I do struts, brakes, transfer case if need be, wheel bearings, all the regular crap. But my time is still worth money. so it gets to the point that the value of the vehicle isn't worth my time to work on it or be bothered by it. For the record, I usually buy new cars after buying pre owned cars from years or a lot of my vehicles came right off my father friends car lot (or I ran around with car lot cars with dealer plates). I have a preowned suv I bought though but only because I got it so far below book value my wife has driven it for two years now (and it depreciated for two years) and it is just now booked at what I paid for it. Couple more years, ill sell it. I don't get attached to cars. My old truck I keep (its a 2000), work on if need be. Id take the tires off that if I junked it. But those actually are thousand dollar tires. But it has paid for itself many times over pushing snow and works as a back up vehicle. And if it gets dented I don't care ill just leave it or pull the dent if I get in the mood or find it particularly annoying. .
And my opinion, from working on cars. Is it SUCKS. PITA. I can do it, but I surely prefer not to. AT one point I had five cars and worked on them all. Now im down to three but am thinking of car shopping for something new. I only work on cars because im a guy that grew up around cars. I prefer to run them and junk them when im done with them. About it.
I think my point is (and you still haven't specifically explained what is wrong with your car) that at some point the headache isn't worth it. Peace of mind and no headache says get rid of it.

 

[bribrius]

personal opinion. chances are the miles are fairly high took, and it needs other work as well. Probably isn't worth working on. Even the tires, probably aren't worth the headache unless you have thousand dollar rims and tires on a thousand dollar car. Junkyards often will take off and sell used tires. Tires are up to you. If you are talking a minimal rebuild, know a mechanic, a few hundred bucks. okay, I can see fixing it if you have too. But realistically if I was in those shoes I would probably just junk the thing and go buy something else. I mean, its a fifteen or sixteen year old car. Might be time to go.

I see your point but I just bought 4 tires a month ago and new brakes. I am waiting to see what my mechanic says if it's worth fixing. The other option is transfer the new tires to another 98 Camry. Keeping fingers crossed.

by the way. you do need a friend that is a mechanic. Because brakes aren't really a big deal. you sound like one of my sisters. she paid five hundred dollars to have her brakes done when I told her to bring it over and I would have done them to help her out for free. But she didn't want to leave the car with me for a couple days and I didn't know how soon I could get to it. Then she tells me how much she paid and how involved it must have been. LOL. pads and shoes are only eighty bucks (and those are the good ones). And after they had the brakes done I ended up working on it anyway to fix the drivers door, pull a dent that it was hanging up on and when they did the brakes they left it scraping one of the backing plates. so I had to bend the plate back. I really cant believe they did the brakes and left it that way. DRiving all you could here was "scrape, scrape, scrape" annoying as all hell. Brakes really aren't that big of a deal. you could have done them yourself actually there isn't a whole lot too it about fifteen minutes a wheel..
shoes a little harder maybe but they don't often go down most of the force is on the front when you stop so its usually the pads you are changing. Pads a ten year old could do, it really is that simple.

even if you have to change calipers and drums its only another eighty bucks in parts. so 160 bucks you have all new. But I would seriously doubt if the shoes needed replacing and you would have to drive the thing into the ground to need new drums. People usually just change drums because they are cheap and might as well while you are already there.
I get things at discount but even if you walk in a autoparts store you probably wouldn't spend much more than that if that on the parts.
And its do quick and simple. Like two beers its done. New brakes, isn't really a reason to worry about keeping or getting rid of a car, least for me. Brakes are minor regular maint.

 

[TheLost]

A '98 Camery w/150k miles in good condition is worth ~$2k (give or take $500).

Lets say a new engine swap will cost you $1k to have a mechanic install.

$1k investment for a $2k car?

or

Sell it to a junk yard and use the money as a down payment on a new car.

Side Note: In December i sold a 2002 Explorer my son drove through a tree+concrete wall.. I got close to $900 from a junkyard for a car that needed $1.5k in repairs ($3k if i had somebody else do it). You can probably get good money for your camry 'as-is'.

 

[annamaria]

A '98 Camery w/150k miles in good condition is worth ~$2k (give or take $500). Lets say a new engine swap will cost you $1k to have a mechanic install. $1k investment for a $2k car? or Sell it to a junk yard and use the money as a down payment on a new car. Side Note: In December i sold a 2002 Explorer my son drove through a tree+concrete wall.. I got close to $900 from a junkyard for a car that needed $1.5k in repairs ($3k if i had somebody else do it). You can probably get good money for your camry 'as-is'.

Sorry about your son's car wreck hope he was ok, but glad you got some good money out of it. I didn't realize junk yards gave that much money for a car. Thank you so much for that information much appreciated.

 

[annamaria]

For all those who asked, basically my oil would leak and I would check it every so often, but I guess not enough since it was bone dry. None of my warning lights work so I had no idea. The engine has a very loud knock and therefore engine probably a total loss. Waiting on mechanic at this point.

 

[TheLost]

Sorry about your son's car wreck hope he was ok, but glad you got some good money out of it. I didn't realize junk yards gave that much money for a car. Thank you so much for that information much appreciated.

'Cash for Clunkers' took most older cars off of the market... It has since driven up the price of 'crappy-used-cars' ($500-$2k market) because most got destroyed by the government.. and it also raised up the price Junkyards pay for 'parts cars'.

My Son wasn't hurt in the accident.. There where 400+ accidents reported that day due to the weather so i couldn't be too upset with him.. stupid kid!

 

[tirediron]

Yeah, but while it's out, might as well bolt on a Roots blower, NO2 kit, high-performace cam kit... you know, basic tune-up stuff!

What's a root blower? As you can see I am not a mechanic lol

...it's nothing you'll have to worry about.It's commonly called a blower.You're more apt to see boost in a turbocharger.Either one,I'm guessing is nothing you'll need to concern yourself with.Can't speak for Tirediron,but I think its safe to say he was being facetious.<---(always wanted to use that word in a post)
Good luck!!!

Me? Fas-eche...what you said? Never!!! :mrgreen:

 

[annamaria]

'Cash for Clunkers' took most older cars off of the market... It has since driven up the price of 'crappy-used-cars' ($500-$2k market) because most got destroyed by the government.. and it also raised up the price Junkyards pay for 'parts cars'. My Son wasn't hurt in the accident.. There where 400+ accidents reported that day due to the weather so i couldn't be too upset with him.. stupid kid!

Glad he was ok.

 

[annamaria]

Me? Fas-eche...what you said? Never!!! :mrgreen:

Tongue twister of a word ;-)

 

[table1349]

Call Bob & Tom next saturday morning and ask them. It will be fun for all of us to listen to.